Page 179 of Intense
Finally—real panic.
“I’ll be back.” My voice is casual, dismissive.
Then I walk out, letting the silence close in around her.
Part of this trial is going to be about letting her think. Assessing from afar her reactions to see if we’re going in the right direction.
I want the truth. Not a half-truth. Not bullshit.
I need to know if any of this was real. Or if it’s all part of a bigger scheme.
I know The Preacher is out to get me.
But the question is, whose side is my wife on?
It’s clear she framed me, and my first guess is them. There is no way Stephanie tampered with the CCTV. There is no way she’d risk her career for this.
There is someone above her pulling the strings.
That I can find out later. But, this trial is more about her. Was it fucking real, what she felt for me?
That’s all I need to know.
Chapter 60
STEPHANIE
Beads of sweat drip down my temple, before sliding over my cheek.
I can’t tell if it’s from stress or because I’ve just swallowed poison.
And the one man who claims to hold the antidote walked out like it didn’t matter.
Like I didn’t matter.
His words still itch under my skin, pulling at the threads of who I am, what I’ve done. But as I glance around the room, I start to wonder what all of this is set up for.
Is this something he does regularly with other women?
Or is this something he set up for me? To test me?
I don’t know how long passes before I start to doubt the pill was anything but a placebo. Time seems to stand still here.
Maybe this is part of the game, to make women spiral, to watch them fake sickness or lust, to see how far they’ll degrade themselves for him.
This can’t be the first and only time he’s done this.
Does he do this with all of them?
Is this his ritual?
The thought twists in my stomach. Not because I’m scared, but because I hate the idea of being reduced to just another player on his board.
I force myself to lean back in the chair, crossing one leg over the other. My nails scrape against my palm.
The door opens.
My head snaps up, eyes locking on his.
